Pune Porsche Crash: Forensics Head Arrested For ‘Switching Blood Samples’

OB Bureau

May 27, 2024 11:31 am

New Delhi: The head of the forensics department at Sassoon Hospital in Pune, where the teen accused in the deadly crash involving a Porsche car was taken for a medical check-up, and another doctor from the hospital have been arrested for allegedly tampering with evidence, a senior police official told India Today on Monday.

The arrests came after it was discovered that the blood samples of the minor involved in the accident were switched with those of another person who had not consumed alcohol. The minor was taken to Sassoon Hospital for a medical test at 11 am on the day of the accident, May 19. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report showed no alcohol in the first sample, raising suspicions, the report added quoting sources. A second blood report revealed alcohol in the minor’s system, and DNA tests confirmed the samples were from two different individuals, leading investigators to suspect that the doctors at the government hospital had tampered with the evidence to protect the accused juvenile.

The Pune crime branch is currently interrogating the two doctors about their alleged role in tampering with the crucial evidence, India Today reported.

What is the case?

The minor, who was allegedly driving the Porsche under the influence of alcohol, was initially granted bail but was later remanded to an observation home until June 5 following public outcry.

His father, real estate developer Vishal Agrawal, and grandfather have also been arrested with allegations of attempting to bribe and threaten the family’s driver to take the blame for the incident.

Two IT professionals, Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, were killed when the speeding Porsche, allegedly driven by the 17-year-old boy, hit their bike. The families of the victims have demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe and trial, citing concerns over the handling of the case.